MANILA, Philippines — Matagumpay ang naging pagpupulong ng University Athletic Association of the Philippines at ng Philippines Sports Commission kung saan pinag-usapan ang ikau-unlad ng national sports development sa Pilipinas.
Nagkasundo ang UAAP Board of Managing Directors at si PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio sa kanilang pag-uusap noong Miyerkules tungkol sa pagsama ng Olympic sporting disciplines sa UAAP calendar.
“It’s extremely important. We need to connect the value chain—and for me, that value is defined as the connection from grassroots to high performance,” ani Gregorio. “The missing links are our universities and colleges. That’s where the sports value chain gets cut off.”
Ipinaliwanag ni Gregorio matapos sumabak sa grassroot programs tulad ng Batang Pinoy at Palarong Pambansa na karamihan sa mga batang atleta ay nagbabago ng kanilang sport.
Ito’y dahil wala sa eskuwelahan na kanilang pag-aaralan ang sport na kung saan ay doon sila magaling.
Kasalukuyang Olympic sports na meron sa UAAP ay ang basketball, badminton, athletics, beach volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, baseball, softball, volleyball, football, fencing, tennis, at 3×3 basketball.
Ang chess at esports, ay kasama rin sa UAAP at ito’y isinasagawa sa Chess Olympiad at Olympic Esports Games.
Ayon kay UAAP Finance Committee chairman at Adamson University Vice President for Student Affairs, Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, na susuporta ang PSC para sa karagdagang Olympic sports disciplines ng liga.